U.S. patent application number 16/428538 was filed with the patent office on 2019-12-05 for end joining piece for a windscreen wiper of a motor vehicle.
This patent application is currently assigned to Valeo Systemes d'Essuyage. The applicant listed for this patent is Valeo Systemes d'Essuyage. Invention is credited to Vincent Gaucher, Stephane Houssat, Laurent Thierry Andre Masse, Guillaume Mouleyre.
Application Number | 20190366983 16/428538 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 65031222 |
Filed Date | 2019-12-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20190366983 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mouleyre; Guillaume ; et
al. |
December 5, 2019 |
END JOINING PIECE FOR A WINDSCREEN WIPER OF A MOTOR VEHICLE
Abstract
An end joining piece (4) for a windscreen wiper for a glazed
surface of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The end piece has at least
a receipt receptacle (410) for receiving an end part of a
longitudinal vertebra (20), and at least one flexible tongue (6a,
6b) which is configured to go from a first, position of rest, to a
second, retracted position, by displacement in a first direction
(F2a, F2b) during the insertion of the longitudinal vertebra in the
receipt receptacle (410), the flexible tongue including an
engagement ramp along which the vertebra is made to thrust, to
provide the tongue with its second, retracted position. The
engagement ramp (620a, 620b) has an inclination which is configured
to exert on the longitudinal vertebra a force which tends to
displace this vertebra in a second direction (F3a, F3b), which,
together with the first direction of displacement, forms a non-zero
angle.
Inventors: |
Mouleyre; Guillaume;
(Issoire, FR) ; Gaucher; Vincent; (Issoire,
FR) ; Houssat; Stephane; (Issoire, FR) ;
Masse; Laurent Thierry Andre; (Issoire, FR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Valeo Systemes d'Essuyage |
Le Mesnil Saint Denis |
|
FR |
|
|
Assignee: |
Valeo Systemes d'Essuyage
Le Mesnil Saint Denis
FR
|
Family ID: |
65031222 |
Appl. No.: |
16/428538 |
Filed: |
May 31, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60S 1/3851 20130101;
B60S 1/3889 20130101; B60S 1/40 20130101; B60S 1/3894 20130101;
B60S 1/3875 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B60S 1/38 20060101
B60S001/38; B60S 1/40 20060101 B60S001/40 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 31, 2018 |
FR |
1854724 |
Claims
1. An end joining piece for a windscreen wiper for a glazed surface
of a motor vehicle, the end joining piece comprising: a receipt
receptacle configured to receive an end part of a longitudinal
vertebra forming part of a support structure of the windscreen
wiper; and at least one flexible tongue configured to go from a
first position of rest, across the receipt receptacle, to a second
retracted position, thus permitting the passage of the longitudinal
vertebra, by displacement in a first direction during the insertion
of the longitudinal vertebra in the receipt receptacle, the
flexible tongue comprising an engagement ramp along which the
vertebra is made to thrust, in order to provide the tongue with the
second retracted position, wherein the engagement ramp has an
inclination configured to exert on the longitudinal vertebra a
force which tends to displace this vertebra in a second direction,
which, together with the first direction of displacement forms a
non-zero angle.
2. The end joining piece according to claim 1, wherein the
engagement ramp is configured to be oriented towards the interior
of the receipt receptacle.
3. The end joining piece according to claim 1, wherein inclination
of the engagement ramp has a leading edge forming a chamfer of the
engagement ramp.
4. The end joining piece according to claim 1, wherein the flexible
tongue comprises a peripheral area disposed transversely on the
exterior of the engagement ramp, the said peripheral area
comprising a lateral border and a clearance surface which extends
the lateral border longitudinally opposite an articulation edge of
the flexible tongue, the said border and the said clearance surface
forming between them a non-zero angle.
5. The end joining piece according to claim 4, wherein the
clearance surface has a transverse dimension which increases going
away from the lateral border.
6. The end joining piece according to claim 1, further comprising
two flexible tongues disposed symmetrically relative to a plane of
symmetry of the end joining piece.
7. A windscreen wiper comprising: at least one longitudinal
vertebra; and a wiper blade configured to be applied against a
glazed surface of a motor vehicle, the wiper blade comprising an
end joining piece according to claim 1.
8. The windscreen wiper according to claim 7, wherein an end part
of the longitudinal vertebra comprises a notch which, together with
the at least one flexible tongue, is configured to form a means for
locking the longitudinal vertebra within the receipt
receptacle.
9. The windscreen wiper according to claim 7, wherein the
engagement ramp has an outer surface which forms together with a
plane perpendicular to the second direction an angle which is
substantially equal to a bevel angle formed between a longitudinal
edge and a transverse end edge of the longitudinal vertebra.
10. A wiper system for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one
windscreen wiper that comprises: at least one longitudinal
vertebra; and a wiper blade configured to be applied against a
glazed surface of a motor vehicle the wiper blade comprising an end
joining piece, the end joining piece comprising: a receipt
receptacle configured to receive an end part of a longitudinal
vertebra forming part of a support structure of the windscreen
wiper; and at least one flexible tongue configured to go from a
first position of rest, across the receipt receptacle, to a second
retracted position, thus permitting the passage of the longitudinal
vertebra, by displacement in a first direction during the insertion
of the longitudinal vertebra in the receipt receptacle, the
flexible tongue comprising an engagement ramp along which the
vertebra is made to thrust, in order to provide the tongue with the
second retracted position, wherein the engagement ramp has an
inclination configured to exert on the longitudinal vertebra a
force which tends to displace this vertebra in a second direction,
which, together with the first direction of displacement forms a
non-zero angle.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to the field of wiping and/or cleaning
of the glazed surfaces of a motor vehicle, and it concerns more
particularly a windscreen wiper for an application of this
type.
[0002] Wipers for motor vehicles are designed to remove, by
sweeping, the liquids and dirt which can disrupt the view which the
driver has of his environment. These wipers generally comprise at
least one drive arm which carries out an angular to-and-fro
movement against a glazed surface to be wiped/cleaned, and at least
one windscreen wiper comprising a scraper blade or wiper blade made
of a resilient material. The windscreen wiper is attached to the
drive arm of the wiping system by means of a connection assembly
which is configured such that, driven by the movements of the wiper
and the arm, the wiper blade rubs against the glazed surface to be
wiped/cleaned, and sweeps away from it the water and a certain
amount of dirt, in order to discharge them out of the field of
vision of the driver.
[0003] Different windscreen wiper technologies are known, including
a flat blade technology, wherein the windscreen wiper comprises a
semi-rigid support structure which retains the wiper blade along
its entire length.
[0004] The present invention concerns more particularly a flat
blade, a support structure of which comprises for example at least
one curved longitudinal vertebra. The curvature of this vertebra
makes it possible in particular to retain the wiper blade placed
against the glazed surface, even at the longitudinal ends of the
windscreen wiper, i.e. at the ends of a windscreen wiper of this
type in its main direction of extension. The curvature vertebra
thus constitutes a means for distribution, along the length of the
wiper, of the force generated by the drive arm, in order to place
the wiper blade against the surface to be wiped/cleaned. The wiper
blade and curvature vertebra are conventionally accommodated in a
common structure or support structure of the wiper blade, and, by
extension, of the windscreen wiper. In order to retain the wiper
blade and support structure together, it is known to place, at one
of their longitudinal ends at least, and preferably at both of
them, an end joining piece which is configured to cooperate with
the longitudinal ends of each of these elements. An end joining
piece of this type thus has the function of joining, at one of
their longitudinal ends at least, the wiper blade, the longitudinal
vertebra and the support structure, and of locking them
together.
[0005] The technical problem for which the present invention
proposes to provide a solution is that of putting into place an end
joining piece as has just been briefly described, and mechanical
retention, within this end joining piece, of the elements received
in it. More specifically, the end joining piece must be able to be
put into place easily, for example during the total or partial
replacement of a worn windscreen wiper, and, once it has been put
into place, it must ensure correct retention of the windscreen
wiper. It is known to ensure the retention of the windscreen wiper,
i.e. both the blade and the vertebra, in the end joining piece, by
means of use of one or a plurality of resilient means within this
joining piece, which resilient means are in the form of flexible
tongues which are displaced mainly in a direction and in a first
sense of retraction under the effect of the force exerted during
the insertion of the windscreen wiper in the end joining piece, and
which, once this putting into place has been carried out, thanks to
their return to the original position by displacement in a second,
opposite direction, exert a force of retention of the windscreen
wiper within the end joining piece. The compromise between a low
insertion force, for ease of putting into place, and strong
retention force, for good retention of the assembly in operation,
is however problematic to establish. In particular, in practice,
breakage of the aforementioned resilient means can take place when
the end joining piece is put into place on the windscreen
wiper.
[0006] In this context, the subject of the present invention is an
end joining piece for a windscreen wiper for a glazed surface of a
motor vehicle, the end joining piece comprising at least:
[0007] a receipt receptacle which is designed to receive an end
part of a longitudinal vertebra forming part of a support structure
of the windscreen wiper;
[0008] at least one flexible tongue which is configured to go from
a first, position of rest, across the receipt receptacle, to a
second, retracted position, thus permitting the passage of the
longitudinal vertebra, by means of displacement in a first
direction during the insertion of the end part of the longitudinal
vertebra in the receipt receptacle, the said flexible tongue
comprising an engagement ramp along which the vertebra is made to
thrust, in order to provide the tongue with its second, retracted
position. According to the invention, the engagement ramp has an
inclination which is configured to exert on the longitudinal
vertebra a force which tends to displace this vertebra in a second
direction, which, together with the first direction of
displacement, forms a non-zero angle.
[0009] Advantageously, the engagement ramp is a substantially flat
surface, to within the production tolerances, forming, together
with a longitudinal and vertical plane on the one hand, and with a
peripheral area forming a border of the tongue towards the exterior
of the receipt receptacle on the other hand, respectively a first
angle and a second angle which are non-zero. Within the receipt
receptacle previously defined, the engagement ramp thus forms an
inclined face, which is oriented, with reference to the directions
and orientations previously defined, towards the top of the end
joining piece according to the invention, and towards the interior
of the receipt receptacle.
[0010] It is understood that the engagement ramp extends from an
articulation edge of the tongue, which forms a junction between the
tongue and a structural element of the joining piece, such as to
form a narrowing of the passage in the receptacle when the tongue
is in the first, position of rest. As previously stated, the
joining piece is in this case distinguished in that the ramp forms
a face which is inclined towards the top of the end joining piece,
because of this form of the ramp, which narrows the passage, but
also towards the interior of the receptacle provided in the joining
piece.
[0011] As a result of the foregoing arrangement, when the end
joining piece according to the invention is put into place at a
longitudinal end of a windscreen wiper, the engagement ramp exerts,
on the end part of a support structure of this wiper, a force which
tends to thrust the aforementioned end part towards the interior of
the receipt receptacle previously defined.
[0012] By convention, throughout the present document, the
qualifiers and terms "longitudinal", "length", apply to the main
direction in which there extend the end joining piece which is the
subject of the invention, as well as a windscreen wiper which an
end joining piece of this type is configured to receive in a wiper
for a motor vehicle. The qualifiers and terms "transverse", "width"
apply to a direction substantially perpendicular to the
longitudinal direction, and represent the width of the end joining
piece and of the windscreen wiper. The qualifiers "vertical",
"height" designate the direction which is perpendicular to both the
longitudinal direction and the transverse direction. In a wiper
system in which a windscreen wiper comprising an end joining piece
according to the invention is in the position of work, i.e. placed
against a glazed surface to be wiped/cleaned, the qualifiers
"lower" or "bottom" designate more specifically the regions close
to the surface to be wiped in the vertical direction, and the
qualifiers "upper" or "top" designate the regions which are distant
from the latter in this same vertical direction.
[0013] These directions and orientations apply equally well to an
end joining piece according to the invention, and to a windscreen
wiper provided with a joining piece of this type at one and/or the
other of its longitudinal ends. Thus, in an end joining piece
according to the invention, the qualifiers "lower" or "bottom" will
designate more particularly hereinafter the regions of the joining
piece which are configured to receive a scraper blade of a
windscreen wiper.
[0014] With reference to these different directions and
orientations, an end joining piece according to the invention is in
the form of a complex part with a main direction of extension which
is substantially parallel, to within the production tolerances, to
the aforementioned longitudinal direction. More specifically, an
end joining piece according to the invention comprises a wall with
a complex form and an end wall which extends substantially along a
vertical transverse plane, such that the complex wall and the end
wall delimit together an inner volume of the end joining piece,
with longitudinal extension, which is closed at one of its
longitudinal ends by the aforementioned end wall, and open at its
opposite longitudinal end. By convention, hereinafter "front" will
designate the region in the aforementioned longitudinal direction
of the end joining piece by means of which the aforementioned
receipt receptacle is open, and "rear" will designate the opposite
region of the end joining piece according to the invention in its
longitudinal direction, i.e. the region of the end joining piece
which is situated towards the end wall previously defined.
[0015] The end joining piece according to the invention also
comprises a separation wall, substantially parallel to a transverse
longitudinal plane, the presence of which delimits, within the
inner volume previously defined, in the vertical direction, a
receipt receptacle which is configured to receive an end part of a
longitudinal vertebra of a windscreen wiper, and a groove which is
configured to receive a wiper blade of a windscreen wiper of this
type.
[0016] Preferably, with reference to the directions and
orientations previously defined, the receipt receptacle is
situated, in the vertical direction, above the groove for receipt
of the wiper blade.
[0017] In a windscreen wiper equipped with an end joining piece
according to the invention, the latter is put into place by
simultaneous insertion, in the longitudinal direction previously
defined, of an end part of the longitudinal vertebra and of the
wiper blade, respectively in the aforementioned receipt receptacle
and groove. More specifically, an insertion of this type is carried
out in particular by relative sliding, in the longitudinal
direction previously defined, supported on an upper face of the
separation wall previously defined, from the front to the rear,
i.e. from the entry of the receipt receptacle towards the end wall
previously defined, of an end part of the longitudinal vertebra of
the windscreen wiper into the aforementioned receipt
receptacle.
[0018] Advantageously, the receipt receptacle comprises means for
guiding and locking of the end part of the aforementioned support
structure. These means for guiding and locking are for example in
the form of at least one rib substantially parallel to a vertical
longitudinal plane, which rib is configured to be placed supported
in the vertical direction on the longitudinal vertebra, in order to
limit its deflection in the said vertical direction.
[0019] The means for guiding and locking of the longitudinal
vertebra within the inner volume of the end joining piece according
to the invention also comprise at least one flexible tongue
arranged within the receipt receptacle previously defined.
[0020] More specifically, the aforementioned flexible tongue(s)
comprise(s) an area which is configured to receive in a supported
manner the end part of the longitudinal vertebra of a windscreen
wiper when the end joining piece according to the invention is put
into place at an end of this windscreen wiper.
[0021] When the end joining piece according to the invention is put
into place at a longitudinal end of a windscreen wiper, the end
part of the support structure slides on the flexible tongue(s)
previously defined, supported on this or these flexible tongue(s),
and the latter is/are retracted, in the vertical direction, below
the end part of the support structure of the windscreen wiper. This
movement of the flexible tongue(s) in the first direction
previously described is made possible in particular by means of the
resilience of the material which constitutes the end joining piece
according to the invention, and by means of the form of this or
these flexible tongue(s) within the inner volume of the
aforementioned end joining piece.
[0022] According to a particularly advantageous, but non-exclusive,
embodiment of the invention, two flexible tongues as previously
defined are arranged within the inner volume of the end joining
piece according to the invention. Advantageously, these two
flexible tongues are disposed symmetrically relative to a vertical
longitudinal plane of symmetry of the end joining piece.
Hereinafter, the invention will be described according to this
particularly advantageous, but non-exclusive, configuration of an
end joining piece according to the invention. The characteristics
described hereinafter for a flexible tongue thus apply identically
to the other flexible tongue which is arranged symmetrically
relative to a vertical longitudinal plane of symmetry of the end
joining piece according to the invention.
[0023] According to the invention, the engagement ramp is the first
region of the flexible tongue with which the end part of the
longitudinal vertebra of a windscreen wiper comes into contact when
the end joining piece according to the invention is put into place
on a wiper of this type. The engagement ramp advantageously forms a
lateral face of the flexible tongue, and more specifically a
lateral face of the flexible tongue which is oriented towards the
interior of the receipt receptacle previously defined.
[0024] The end joining piece according to the invention can have
one or more of the following characteristics, taken separately or
in combination:
[0025] the engagement ramp has a leading edge forming a chamfer. In
other words, for each flexible tongue, the engagement ramp
previously defined forms a face which is inclined relative to a
base surface of this flexible tongue, and the aforementioned
leading edge, which constitutes the intersection between the
engagement ramp and this base surface, forms a chamfer of the
engagement ramp. Thus, in a windscreen wiper which is equipped with
an end joining piece according to the invention, the insertion
force which is exerted during the first moments of the sliding of
the end part of the support structure of the windscreen wiper is
equally distributed on the surface of this chamfer, consequently
contributing further towards reducing the risks of breakage of the
flexible tongue during this operation of putting into place;
[0026] the flexible tongue comprises a peripheral area disposed
transversely on the exterior of the engagement ramp, the peripheral
area comprising a lateral border and a clearance surface which
extends the lateral border longitudinally opposite the articulation
edge of the flexible tongue previously described, the said border
and the said clearance surface forming between them a non-zero
angle. In other words, the peripheral area thus comprises two
distinct surfaces which are substantially flat, to within the
production tolerances, forming a non-zero angle between them;
[0027] the clearance surface is configured such that, when the end
joining piece according to the invention is put into place at a
longitudinal end of a windscreen wiper, i.e. when the end part,
previously defined, of the longitudinal vertebra of this windscreen
wiper is completely engaged in the receipt receptacle previously
defined, the lower face of the longitudinal vertebra is supported
on a ridge delimiting this clearance surface. This therefore
reduces the area of contact, and limits the insertion forces. In
particular, the clearance surface can have a transverse dimension
which increases progressively going away from the lateral
border.
[0028] The invention also extends to a windscreen wiper comprising
at least one longitudinal vertebra and a wiper blade which is
configured to be applied against a glazed surface of a motor
vehicle, the windscreen wiper implementing an end joining piece as
has just been described. A windscreen wiper of this type can also
have one or more of the following characteristics, taken separately
or in combination:
[0029] an end part of the longitudinal vertebra of the windscreen
wiper comprises a notch which, together with the at least one
flexible tongue of the end joining piece previously described, is
configured to form a means for locking the longitudinal vertebra
within the receipt receptacle of the said end joining piece. More
specifically, the end part of the longitudinal vertebra has, to
within the production tolerances, a substantially flat form which,
in the windscreen wiper according to the invention is substantially
parallel to the transverse longitudinal plane of the separation
wall previously defined, and the aforementioned notch is arranged,
in the transverse direction previously defined, starting from one
of the longitudinal edges of the aforementioned end part. According
to the invention, the location of the notch in the end part of the
longitudinal vertebra and the dimensions of the notch are
configured such that, when the end joining piece is in place at the
end of the windscreen wiper, one of the flexible tongues is
located, in the vertical direction, facing the notch, in order to
regain its original position of rest, and thus, by means of its
resilience, to provide a locking form by snapping into the
aforementioned notch. The cooperation of the notch with the
flexible tongue engaged inside it thus provides retention of the
longitudinal vertebra of the windscreen wiper within the end
joining piece, mainly in the longitudinal direction of the
windscreen wiper;
[0030] the engagement ramp has an outer surface which forms
together with a plane perpendicular to the second direction an
angle which is substantially equal to a bevel angle formed between
a longitudinal edge and a transverse end edge of the longitudinal
vertebra. More specifically, according to this characteristic of
the invention, the intersection between the longitudinal edges of
the end part of the longitudinal vertebra of the windscreen wiper
and a transverse end edge of this longitudinal vertebra is formed
by a wall which connects these two bevelled edges. In other words,
the end part of the support structure of the windscreen wiper
according to the invention has, at its end which is configured to
be engaged in the receipt receptacle of the end joining piece,
corner cuts between its longitudinal edges and its transverse end
edge. The coincidence of the angle of the aforementioned bevel with
the angle which the engagement ramp forms with the vertical
direction previously defined permits progressive engagement and
guiding of the end part of the aforementioned support structure
with the flexible tongue. This results in facilitated insertion
within the end joining piece, as well as in better guiding of the
support structure within this joining piece.
[0031] The invention also relates to a wiper system for a motor
vehicle comprising at least one windscreen wiper as has just been
described.
[0032] Other characteristics, details and advantages of the
invention will become more clearly apparent by means of the
following description and the drawings in which:
[0033] FIG. 1 is a general schematic view in perspective of a
windscreen wiper designed to wipe/clean a glazed surface of a motor
vehicle, the longitudinal ends of the wiper being provided
respectively with an end joining piece according to the
invention;
[0034] FIG. 2 is a schematic view in perspective of an end joining
piece according to the invention, in which two flexible tongues are
in the position of rest across a receipt receptacle;
[0035] FIG. 2bis is a schematic view in perspective of an end
joining piece according to the invention, in which the two flexible
tongues are in the retracted position, with the longitudinal
vertebra forcing the tongues into this retracted position not being
represented in this case;
[0036] FIG. 3 is a schematic view in cross-section from above,
according to a transverse longitudinal plane, of an end joining
piece such as the one illustrated in FIG. 2 or in FIG. 2bis;
[0037] FIG. 4 is a schematic view in perspective of a detail of an
end joining piece such as the one illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3,
showing more particularly a flexible tongue of the end joining
piece according to the invention, in a retracted position according
to that illustrated in FIG. 2bis;
[0038] FIG. 4bis is a representation of the flexible tongue in FIG.
4;
[0039] FIG. 5 is a schematic view in perspective of an end part of
a longitudinal vertebra equipping the support structure of a
windscreen wiper according to the invention;
[0040] FIG. 6 is a schematic view in perspective illustrating a
first step of insertion of the end part of the longitudinal
vertebra in FIG. 5 in an end joining piece such as the one
illustrated in particular in FIGS. 2 to 4;
[0041] and FIG. 7 is a schematic view in cross-section from above,
according to a transverse longitudinal plane, of a windscreen wiper
according to the invention, illustrating the cooperation of the
flexible tongues and the longitudinal vertebra, once the end
joining piece of this windscreen wiper is put into place on the end
part of the windscreen wiper.
[0042] It should be noted firstly that, although the figures
describe the invention in detail for its implementation, it will be
appreciated that they can be used to define the invention better if
applicable. It should also be noted that, throughout the figures,
elements which are similar and/or fulfil the same function are
indicated by the same reference.
[0043] With reference to the orientations and directions previously
defined, the longitudinal direction will be represented in all the
figures by the direction of an axis (Ox), the transverse direction
will be represented by the direction of an axis (Oy), and the
vertical direction will be represented by the direction of an axis
(Oz), with the trihedron (O, x, y, z) forming a direct trihedron.
Relative to this trihedron, the qualifiers "high" or "upper" will
be represented by the positive direction of the axis (Oz), the
qualifiers "low" or "lower" being represented by the negative
direction of this same axis (Oz). It should be noted that the
directions thus defined are those of an end joining piece and a
windscreen wiper according to the invention, and that they are not
associated with the directions and orientations of a vehicle
equipped with these elements. In other words the longitudinal (Ox),
transverse (Oy) and vertical (Oz) directions can have any
orientations relative to the longitudinal L, transverse T and
vertical V directions of a motor vehicle equipped with the
invention.
[0044] With reference to FIG. 1, a windscreen wiper 1 of a wiper
assembly for a motor vehicle has a form which is elongate in the
longitudinal direction of the axis (Ox) previously defined, and its
width extends in the transverse direction of the axis (Oy)
previously defined. In particular, it comprises a support structure
2, in which a scraper blade 3 is received, as well as a
longitudinal vertebra 20 which is accommodated in the support
structure and is configured to provide a good compromise between
rigidity and flexibility necessary for the wiper function of the
wiper, and, at each of its ends in the aforementioned longitudinal
direction (Ox) it is equipped with an end joining piece 4.
[0045] The windscreen wiper 1 also comprises an assembly 5 for
connection to a drive arm, not represented in FIG. 1, which carries
out an angular to-and-fro movement above the glazed surface to be
wiped/cleaned. In this angular to-and-fro movement of the drive
arm, the windscreen wiper 1 and its scraper blade 3 are placed and
driven in an angular movement against the glazed surface in order
to carry out the required wiping/cleaning operation.
[0046] Each end joining piece 4 is configured to receive a
longitudinal end of the support structure of the windscreen wiper,
and in particular at the same time a longitudinal end of the
vertebra 20 and a longitudinal end of the scraper blade 3. Each end
joining piece 4 thus ensures the retention in particular of the
support structure 2, of the vertebra 200 and of the wiper blade 3
of the windscreen wiper 1 at its longitudinal ends. In practice,
each end joining piece 4 is put in place at a longitudinal end of
the windscreen wiper 1 by insertion, in the end joining piece, of
an end part of the vertebra 20 previously described, and of an end
part of the scraper blade 3. More specifically, each end joining
piece 4 is put into place in particular by sliding of an end part
of the aforementioned vertebra 20 in the longitudinal direction
(Ox) previously defined, within the end joining piece 4. The end
joining piece 4 is advantageously produced by injection into a
mould of plastic material selected in particular for its mechanical
resilience properties.
[0047] FIG. 2 illustrates schematically an end joining piece 4
according to the invention. With reference to this figure, the end
joining piece 4 has a main direction of extension which is
substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction (Ox)
previously defined, and it is formed by a wall 40 with a complex
form, and an end wall 41 which is substantially perpendicular to
the longitudinal direction (Ox), and delimits together with the
complex wall 40 an inner volume 400 of the end joining piece 4. The
complex wall 40 comprises a first lateral portion 40a and a second
lateral portion 40b which are connected together by a top portion
40c. As a result of the foregoing, the aforementioned inner volume
400 is open at one of its longitudinal ends, designated hereinafter
as the front end and/or entry of the inner volume 400, and, at its
opposite longitudinal end, designated hereinafter as the rear end
of the inner volume 400, it is closed by the end wall 41 previously
described. It should be noted that, according to the embodiment
illustrated in the figures, which is non-exclusive, the end joining
piece according to the invention has a plane of symmetry P which is
substantially parallel to a vertical longitudinal plane (Oxz)
defined by the axes (Ox) and (Oz). The lateral portions,
respectively 40a, 40b, and the top portion 40c of the complex wall
40 are thus in this case symmetrical relative to the plane of
symmetry P.
[0048] Within the aforementioned inner volume 400, the end joining
piece 4 comprises in particular a separation wall 42 which is
substantially flat and parallel to a transverse longitudinal plane
(Oxy) defined by the axes (Ox) and (Oy).Within the inner volume
400, in the vertical direction (Oz) previously defined, the
separation wall 42 delimits a receipt receptacle 410 and a groove
420. Advantageously, in the windscreen wiper 1 according to the
invention, the receipt receptacle 410 is configured to receive an
end part of the vertebra 20, not represented in FIG. 2, and the
groove 420 is configured to receive an end part of the scraper
blade 3, not represented in FIG. 2. More specifically, the end
joining piece 4 is put into place on a wiper blade 1 as previously
described in particular by sliding, in the longitudinal direction
(Ox), of a lower face of the longitudinal vertebra supported on an
upper face 421 of the separation wall 42. Advantageously, with
reference to the directions and orientations previously defined,
the receipt receptacle 410 is situated, in the vertical direction
(Oz), above the groove 420 in the end joining piece 4. As shown in
FIG. 2, the groove 420 is partially closed in its low part by two
walls, respectively 420a, 420b, which are substantially flat and
parallel to the separation wall 42, facing towards one another in
the transverse direction (Oy) on both sides of a central transverse
longitudinal space 420c, which is designed to receive a heel of the
wiper blade 3 of the windscreen wiper 1.
[0049] Advantageously, as shown in FIG. 2, the separation wall 42
has an inclined front face 422. In other words, the front face 422
of the separation wall 42, which is situated with reference to the
orientations previously defined on the entry side of the inner
volume 400, forms, together with a vertical transverse plane (Oyz)
defined by the axes (Oy) and (Oz), a non-zero angle 423, which is
shown in FIG. 2. More specifically, the aforementioned angle 423 is
configured such that the front face 422 of the separation wall 42
forms, for the longitudinal vertebra forming part of the support
structure of a windscreen wiper 1 according to the invention, a
ramp for access to the receipt receptacle 410 previously defined.
This makes it possible to facilitate the putting into place of the
end joining piece 4 on the windscreen wiper 1, whilst limiting the
risks of scraping and coupling of the end part of the vertebra
against the separation wall 42, and thus the risks of damaging the
end joining piece 4.
[0050] In particular, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the access ramp
formed by the front face 422 of the separation wall 42 as
previously described can be formed by a first curved portion 4221
and a second portion 4222, which has a flat surface and is inclined
relative to the vertical direction (Oz) and relative to the
longitudinal direction (Ox).
[0051] Advantageously, the separation wall 42 comprises a first
part 424 which extends mainly in the transverse direction (Oy), and
a second part 425, which is substantially centred in the transverse
direction (Oy), extending mainly in the longitudinal direction
(Ox). The first part 424 of the separation wall 42 extends in the
aforementioned transverse direction (Oy) within the receipt volume
400, between the inner surfaces of the two lateral portions 40a,
40b of the complex wall 40 previously defined. In other words, seen
from above with reference to the orientations previously defined,
the separation wall 42 has substantially the form of a "T", the
horizontal branch of which is formed by the first part 424, and
extends within the inner volume 400 of the end joining piece 4,
from one to the other of the aforementioned lateral portions 40a,
40b, and the vertical branch of which is formed by the second part
425, and extends in the direction of the end wall 41, in a
substantially central position in the transverse direction
(Oy).
[0052] Within the receipt receptacle 410, the end joining piece 4
according to the invention advantageously comprises at least one
rib, which is substantially parallel, to within the production
tolerances, to a vertical longitudinal plane (Oxz) defined by the
axes (Ox) and (Oz) previously described, extending downwards from
an inner surface of the top portion 40c of the complex wall 40
previously defined. According to the embodiment more particularly
illustrated by the figures, the end joining piece 4 comprises two
ribs, respectively 43a, 43b, which are arranged symmetrically
relative to the plane of symmetry P previously defined. In a
windscreen wiper 1 according to the invention the aforementioned
ribs 43a, 43b are configured to form a stop in the vertical
direction (Oz) at the end part of the longitudinal vertebra 20,
when the latter is inserted in the receipt receptacle 410.
[0053] With reference to FIGS. 2 and 2bis, the joining piece 4
according to the invention also comprises at least one flexible
tongue which can adopt a position of rest (FIG. 2) in which it
extends across the receipt receptacle 410, and a retracted position
(FIG. 2bis) in which it permits the passage of the vertebra through
this receipt receptacle.
[0054] According to the embodiment more particularly illustrated
and described here, the end joining piece 4 comprises two flexible
tongues, respectively 6a, 6b which are disposed symmetrically on
both sides of the plane of symmetry P previously defined. In the
longitudinal direction (Ox), each flexible tongue 6a, 6b
advantageously extends from a rear face 426, which can be seen more
particularly in FIGS. 3 and 4, of the first part 424 of the
separation wall 42.
[0055] More specifically, each flexible tongue 6a, 6b is arranged
within a space, respectively 410a, 410b, of the receipt receptacle
410, which is delimited in the longitudinal direction (Ox) by the
first part 424, previously defined, of the separation wall 42, and
by the end wall 41, and is delimited in the transverse direction
(Oy) by the second part 425, previously defined, of the separation
wall 42, and by one of the lateral portions 40a, 40b, previously
defined, of the complex wall 40 of the end joining piece 4.
[0056] Each flexible tongue 6a, 6b is separated in the transverse
direction (Oy) from the inner surface of one of the lateral
portions 40a, 40b, of the end joining piece 4, by a clearance space
427a, 427b, shown in FIG. 3, i.e. in other words, there is no
contact between each flexible tongue 6a, 6b and the inner surface
of the corresponding lateral portion 40a, 40b.
[0057] FIG. 3 shows schematically an end joining piece 4 according
to the invention seen from above, in cross-section according to a
transverse longitudinal plane (Oxy) which is substantially parallel
to the separation wall 42. This figure shows again the first part
424 and the second part 425 of the separation wall 42, as well as
the flexible tongues, respectively 6a, 6b, and the correspondence
clearance spaces respectively 427a, 427b.
[0058] FIG. 3 also shows a plurality of godroons extending in the
transverse direction (Oy) from the inner surface, situated within
the receipt receptacle 410, of each of the lateral portions,
respectively 40a, 40b of the joining piece. According to the
non-exclusive embodiment which is illustrated more particularly by
FIG. 3, two godroons 44a are arranged starting from the inner
surface of the first lateral portion 40a, and two godroons 44b are
arranged starting from the inner surface of the second lateral
portion 40b. More specifically, according to the embodiment
illustrated more particularly by FIG. 3, the godroons 44a, 44b are
disposed symmetrically relative to the plane of symmetry P
previously defined, i.e. the godroons 44a, 44b face one another in
pairs relative to the aforementioned plane of symmetry P.
[0059] According to this embodiment, each godroon 44a, 44b is in
the form of a portion of a cylinder with an axis substantially
parallel to the vertical direction (Oz). Advantageously, in the end
joining piece 4 according to the invention, the dimensions in the
transverse direction (Oy) of the godroons 44a, 44b are defined such
that, when the end joining piece 4 is put into place on a
windscreen wiper 1 as previously described, these godroons form
locking, in the transverse direction, of the end part 20 of the
longitudinal vertebra of the windscreen wiper, not represented in
FIG. 3. In other words, the godroons 44a, 44b are advantageously
configured to compensate for any transverse play of the
strengthening vertebra within the receipt receptacle 410 of the end
joining piece 4.
[0060] FIG. 4 and FIG. 4bis show in detail one of the flexible
tongues, in this case the flexible tongue 6a, of the end joining
piece 4 according to the invention. Arbitrarily hereinafter, the
invention will be described with reference only to the flexible
tongue 6a illustrated in FIG. 4, on the understanding that the
configurations and characteristics described apply identically to
the flexible tongue 6b, symmetrically relative to the
aforementioned plane of symmetry P.
[0061] With reference to FIG. 4, the flexible tongue 6a is in the
form of a polyhedron which extends, in a main direction of
extension substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction
(Ox), from the rear face 426 of the first part 424 of the
separation wall 42 previously described.
[0062] More specifically, the flexible tongue 6a comprises a
substantially parallelepiped base 60a from which there extend, next
to one another in the transverse direction (Oy) and projecting
upwards in the vertical direction (Oz), i.e. in the direction of
the top portion 40c of the end joining piece, firstly a peripheral
area 61a, and secondly an engagement area 62a. It is understood
that the peripheral area 61a is disposed transversely towards the
exterior of the receipt receptacle in which the flexible tongue
extends. More specifically, the substantially parallelepiped base
60a comprises in particular an upper face 600a which extends in the
extension of the upper face 421 of the separation wall 42, and from
which the aforementioned peripheral area 61a and the engagement
area 62a extend.
[0063] As previously stated, the flexible tongue is configured to
tilt between a position of rest, illustrated in FIG. 2, and in
which the peripheral area and the engagement area of the tongue are
across the receipt receptacle, and a position of retraction,
illustrated in FIG. 2bis, under the effect of insertion of the
vertebra, which is not shown in this FIG. 2bis, in order then to
return to the position of rest as soon as the vertebra is
withdrawn, or when a notch formed in the vertebra permits this
return to position of the tongue. The passage from one to the other
of these positions of the tongue takes place by means of tilting
around an articulation edge 601a, 601b, which in this case is
formed at the junction between the flexible tongue 6a, 6b and the
separation wall 42. The tilting is defined as a movement in a first
vertical main direction (Oz), since it takes place on a
longitudinal and vertical plane, and without a transverse
component.
[0064] Advantageously, the peripheral area 61a is substantially
flat, and, with reference to the orientations previously defined,
it is oriented towards the top of the end joining piece 4 in the
vertical direction (Oz). According to the particularly
advantageous, but non-exclusive, embodiment illustrated by FIG. 4,
the peripheral area 61a is formed by a straight lateral border 610a
and a clearance surface 611a which extends the border towards the
interior of the joining piece, with the clearance surface and the
lateral border being arranged on respective planes forming together
a non-zero angle 612a.
[0065] In addition to this angle between the two respective planes,
the border 610a and the surface 611a differ by their transverse
dimension (Oy), with the transverse dimension of the border 610a
being substantially constant, to within the production tolerances,
along the entire length of the border 610a, the length in this case
being understood as the dimension in the longitudinal direction
(Ox), whereas the transverse dimension of the clearance surface
611a increases progressively going away from the border.
[0066] According to the invention, the engagement area 62a
comprises an engagement ramp 620a and a leading edge 621a of the
engagement ramp 620a.
[0067] The engagement ramp 620a is a substantially flat surface
which forms part of an inner lateral face of the flexible tongue
6a. In other words, the engagement ramp 620a forms a part of the
lateral face of the flexible tongue 6a which is oriented, within
the receipt receptacle 410, towards the second part 425 of the
separation wall 42, i.e. it is oriented towards the interior of the
receipt receptacle 410. According to the embodiment more
particularly illustrated by the figures, the engagement ramp 620a
is thus oriented towards the plane of symmetry P previously
defined. Consequently, in the end joining piece 4 according to the
invention, the engagement ramps, respectively 620a, 620b, of the
flexible tongues respectively 6a, 6b, face one another on both
sides of the aforementioned plane of symmetry P (the flexible
tongue 6b and the engagement ramp 620b are not represented in FIG.
4).
[0068] According to the invention, the outer surface of the
engagement ramp 620a forms, together with a vertical longitudinal
plane, for example the plane of symmetry P previously described, a
non-zero angle 622a, i.e. the surface of the engagement ramp 620a
which ensures the contact with the longitudinal vertebra during its
insertion is not parallel with a plane of this type, nor does it
coincide with it. In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, the plane formed
by the engagement ramp 620a forms, together with a transverse
longitudinal plane, for example the plane of the upper face 600a of
the base 60a of the flexible tongue 6a, a non-zero angle, i.e. the
engagement ramp 620a is not parallel with a plane of this type, nor
does it coincide with it.
[0069] As shown by FIGS. 4 and 4bis, the foregoing arrangement
results in the engagement ramp 620a being inclined at the same time
relative to the lateral border 610a, relative to the clearance
surface 611a, and relative to the upper face 600a of the base 60a
of the flexible tongue 6a. In other words, the engagement ramp 620a
forms within the receipt receptacle 410 an inclined face which is
oriented towards the central part, in the transverse direction (Oy)
previously defined, of the said receipt receptacle 410. In the end
joining piece 4 according to the particular embodiment described
and illustrated in the figures, the engagement ramps, respectively
620a, 620b, of the flexible tongues, respectively 6a, 6b, thus form
two inclined faces which face one another, each oriented towards
the plane of symmetry P of the end joining piece 4.
[0070] The leading edge 621a previously described is a
substantially flat surface, to within the production tolerances,
which constitutes the intersection between the engagement ramp 620a
and the upper face 600a, previously defined, of the base 60a of the
flexible tongue 6a. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 4bis, the configuration
of the engagement ramp 620a relative to the upper face 600a of the
base 60a of the flexible tongue 6a results in the substantially
flat surface formed by the leading edge 621a being oriented, in the
transverse direction (Oy), towards the interior of the receipt
receptacle 410, i.e., in the embodiment more particularly
illustrated by the figures, towards the plane of symmetry P of the
end joining piece 4.
[0071] As shown in particular in FIG. 4bis, the junction between
the peripheral area 61a and the area of engagement 62a forms a
first, longitudinal ridge 8, and a second, oblique ridge 9, i.e.
having an angle relative to the longitudinal direction (Ox) and
relative to the transverse direction (Oy), the second ridge 9 being
oblique because the transverse dimension of the clearance surface
becomes progressively enlarged.
[0072] More particularly, the clearance surfaces 611a, 611b are
formed respectively by a flattened part which is inclined relative
to the surface forming the engagement ramps which comprises a
lateral portion 6111 arranged in the longitudinal extension of the
lateral border of the tongue, and an inner portion 6112 which
extends this lateral portion 6111 towards the interior of the
tongue, and is disposed in the longitudinal extension of the
engagement ramp 620a.
[0073] FIG. 5 illustrates schematically, in perspective, an end
part of a longitudinal vertebra 20 which strengthens at least
partly the support structure 2 of a windscreen wiper 1 according to
the invention.
[0074] With reference to this figure, the longitudinal vertebra 20
is in the general form of a plate with a narrow thickness,
extending in a main direction of extension substantially parallel
to the direction (Ox) previously defined. With reference to the
directions and orientations previously defined, the longitudinal
vertebra 20 comprises a lower face 21 and an upper face 22 which
are substantially flat, to within the production tolerances,
extending substantially parallel to a transverse longitudinal plane
(Oxy) defined by the axes (Ox) and (Oy) previously described. The
lower face 21 and the upper face 22 are joined together by two
vertical longitudinal walls, respectively 23, 24, forming
respectively a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal
edge of the vertebra 20, and by a transverse wall 25 forming a
longitudinal end edge of the vertebra 20.
[0075] A notch 26 is arranged in the vicinity of the end edge 25 of
the longitudinal vertebra 20. More specifically, the notch 26 is
arranged starting from one of the longitudinal edges 23, 24
previously defined, and it extends within the longitudinal vertebra
20 in the transverse direction (Oy). In the embodiment illustrated
more particularly in FIG. 5, the notch 26 forms a substantially
rectangular cut-out in the longitudinal vertebra 20, starting from
the first longitudinal edge 23 of the latter. As shown in FIG. 5,
the presence of the notch 26 defines in the longitudinal vertebra
20 a body 27 and an end 28 which, in the windscreen wiper 1
according to the invention, is designed to be engaged in the
receipt receptacle 410 of the end joining piece 4 as previously
described.
[0076] Advantageously, in a windscreen wiper 1 according to the
invention, the intersection between the longitudinal edges 23, 24
and the end edge 25 of the longitudinal vertebra is not at
right-angles. In other words, the corners of the longitudinal
vertebra 20 are, at its end 28, machined to form respectively a
first bevel 280 and a second bevel 281. In other words, the
connection wall 280 between the first longitudinal edge 23 and the
end edge 25 previously defined forms, together with the
longitudinal direction (Ox), a first non-zero angle 290, and the
connection wall 281 between the second longitudinal edge 24 and the
end edge 25 forms, together with the longitudinal direction (Ox), a
second non-zero angle 291. In the particularly advantageous, but
non-exclusive embodiment according to the invention which is
illustrated more particularly in the figures, the first angle 290
and the second angle 291 are substantially equal in terms of
absolute value.
[0077] FIG. 6 illustrates schematically, in perspective cut
according to a transverse longitudinal plane parallel to the plane
(Oxy) previously defined, the putting into place of the
longitudinal vertebra 20 associated with a windscreen wiper 1
according to the invention, within an end joining piece 4 according
to the invention.
[0078] As previously described, this putting into place is carried
out in particular by sliding, in the longitudinal direction (Ox),
of the longitudinal vertebra 20 previously described, within the
receipt receptacle 410 previously defined. The direction of this
relative longitudinal sliding of the aforementioned longitudinal
vertebra 20 relative to the end joining piece 4 is represented by
the arrow F1 in FIG. 6. Advantageously, the dimension of the end
part of the longitudinal vertebra 20, i.e. the part which is
designed to be inserted in the joining piece, in the transverse
direction (Oy), is slightly smaller than the dimension, in this
transverse direction (Oy), of the receipt receptacle 410 of the end
joining piece 4, such that the relative sliding of the longitudinal
vertebra 20 within the receipt receptacle 410 takes place easily
and without friction against the inner surfaces of the lateral
portions, respectively 40a, 40b, until the end 28 of the
longitudinal vertebra 20 meets the flexible tongues 6a, 6b.
[0079] In the aforementioned relative sliding movement, after
having gone beyond the front face 422 of the separation wall 42,
the lower face 21 of the longitudinal vertebra 20 of the windscreen
wiper 1 slides firstly against the upper face 421 of the separation
wall 42, at the first part 424. The end 28 of the longitudinal
vertebra 20 then approaches simultaneously the engagement ramp
620a, 620b of each of the flexible tongues 6a, 6b. More
specifically, each of the bevels 280, 281, formed on both sides of
the end edge 25 of the longitudinal vertebra 20, engages
successively with one of the leading edges 621a, 621b, then one of
the engagement ramps 620a, 620b, and finally one of the clearance
surfaces 611a, 611b.
[0080] In this context, according to the invention, the angles 290,
291, previously defined and formed by the bevels arranged at the
end 28 of the longitudinal vertebra 20, are respectively
substantially equal to the angles 622a, 622b (shown in particular
in FIG. 4) formed between the engagement ramps 620a, 620b, and a
vertical longitudinal plane, such as, according to the embodiment
illustrated in the figures, the plane of symmetry P of the end
joining piece 4. Consequently, when the relative longitudinal
sliding of the longitudinal vertebra 20 previously described is
continued within the receipt receptacle 410, in the direction of
the rear of the end joining piece 4, the bevels 280, 281 coincide
with the engagement ramps 620a, 620b of the flexible tongues 6a,
6b, and engage against the latter.
[0081] In their original position, the flexible tongues 6a, 6b form
an obstacle to the sliding of the longitudinal vertebra 20 within
the receipt receptacle 410, such that the longitudinal vertebra 20
tends to be raised during the insertion, going away from the
flexible tongues. The presence of the ribs 43a, 43b previously
described generates a stop for the vertical displacement of the end
part. The contact is thus ensured between the bevels forming the
leading edge of the longitudinal vertebra 20 during its insertion,
and each of the leading edges 621b of the flexible tongues.
According to the invention, it should be noted that the
complementarity of the angles between a leading edge and a bevel
generates a linear contact, at the start of the displacement of the
flexible tongue from its original position towards a retracted
position, thus permitting passage of the end part of the
longitudinal vertebra. The complementarity of forms makes it
possible to increase the contact surface between the vertebra and
the flexible tongues at the start of the deformation of the
tongues, thus making it possible to ensure that each tongue is
retracted correctly in the first direction required, i.e.
perpendicular to the direction of insertion of the vertebra in the
joining piece, in this case the vertical direction (Oz), without
the tongue twisting under the impact of the vertebra.
[0082] Since the longitudinal vertebra 20 is blocked vertically by
the ribs 43a, 43b, the progressive insertion of this end part in
the joining piece 4 tends to displace the end of the longitudinal
vertebra 20 along the engagement ramps and, because of the
resilience of the material constituting the flexible tongues 6a,
6b, and the first inclination of the engagement ramps in the
direction of the top portion 40c of the joining piece, the flexible
tongues 6a, 6b are then displaced in the first aforementioned
direction, in order to be retracted below the lower face 21 of the
longitudinal vertebra 20.
[0083] The linear contact which is generated between the lower
ridge of the bevels 280, 281 and the leading edges 621b of the
flexible tongues is then continued with linear contact between this
ridge of the bevels and the engagement ramps of these tongues in
the continuity of the linear displacement of the vertebra in the
interior of the receptacle. This linear contact continues until the
flexible tongues reach their retracted position, and passes below
the vertebra. The first phase of insertion of the vertebra in the
interior of the receptacle is then ended, and it should be noted
that, during this first phase, according to the invention, the
particular inclined form of the engagement ramps has a double
advantage.
[0084] Firstly, the fact that the engagement ramps are inclined
towards the interior of the receipt receptacle of the vertebra, as
it has been defined previously, makes it possible to centre the
vertebra in the interior of the joining piece, and thus to ensure
at the end of insertion that at least one flexible tongue can
regain its original position by locking into the corresponding
notch 26 in the vertebra. In fact, each of these engagement ramps
620a, 620b exerts on the end 28 of the longitudinal vertebra a
force which is directed substantially perpendicularly to the
surface of the engagement ramps 620a, 620b concerned, in a second
direction illustrated by the arrows, respectively F3a, F3b in FIG.
6, thus tending to centre the vertebra towards the interior of the
receipt receptacle 410. Therefore, according to the invention, at
least one engagement ramp 620a, 620b is configured to exert on the
longitudinal vertebra 20 inserted in the joining piece 4 a force
which tends to displace this vertebra in a direction different from
the direction of retraction of the flexible tongue 6a, 6b.
[0085] In addition, the fact that the inclination of the engagement
ramps generates angular complementarity with the bevels provided at
the end of the vertebra ensures tilting of the tongues from the
position of rest to the retracted position, with linear contact
between the end of the vertebra and each of the tongues, thus
making the pivoting movement of the tongues reliable.
[0086] In a second phase of the insertion of the vertebra, the
vertebra slides as far as the end of the receptacle, whilst being
clamped between the ribs 43a, 43b and the retracted flexible
tongues. Under the effect of the resilience of the material which
constitutes them, the flexible tongues 6a, 6b then exert on the
lower face 21 of the longitudinal vertebra a force in the first
aforementioned direction, i.e. which is substantially vertical and
faces towards the top portion 40c of the end joining piece 4.
Together with the vertical force substantially directed vertically
downwards exerted by the ribs 43a, 43b on the upper face 22 of the
longitudinal vertebra 20, this force contributes towards locking
the vertebra in both senses of the vertical direction within the
receipt receptacle 410. According to a characteristic of the
invention, the contact surface between the retracted flexible
tongues and the lower face 21 of the longitudinal vertebra 20 is
reduced during this second insertion phase, in order to limit the
friction forces whilst the vertebra is retained between the ribs
and the flexible tongues. It is understood that, when the flexible
tongue is passed below the vertebra, only the joining ridge, i.e.
the second ridge 9, between the engagement ramp and the inner
portion of the clearance surface as has been previously described,
is in contact with the lower face 21 of the longitudinal vertebra
20. Since, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 4bis for example, this ridge is
oriented with inclination relative to the transverse direction
(Oy), the contact between the tongue and the vertebra is
intermittent when the tongues slide below the vertebra, thus
decreasing the sliding forces.
[0087] The relative sliding of the longitudinal vertebra 20 within
the receipt receptacle continues until the notch 26, arranged in
the aforementioned longitudinal vertebra 20, is located, in the
vertical direction (Oz), facing one of the flexible tongues 6a, 6b.
According to the embodiment more particularly illustrated by FIG.
6, the notch 26 previously defined is located, in the transverse
direction (Oy), on the same side of the plane of symmetry P as the
second flexible tongue 6b.
[0088] Under the effect of the resilience of the material which
constitutes it, the flexible tongue 6b, which is freed from the
vertical support constraint exerted by the lower face 21 of the
longitudinal vertebra 20, then returns to its initial position,
providing a form of locking by snapping of the longitudinal
vertebra 20 together with the end joining piece 4. This is more
particularly illustrated in FIG. 7, which shows the end joining
piece 4 assembled with the longitudinal vertebra 20 of a windscreen
wiper 1 according to the invention.
[0089] This FIG. 7 shows the longitudinal vertebra 20 and its notch
26 previously defined, as well as the first flexible tongue 6a,
shown partially, since it is retracted below the that longitudinal
vertebra 20 and the second flexible tongue 6b, which is locked by
being snapped into the aforementioned notch 26. In this position,
as shown in FIG. 7, the flexible tongue 6b provides longitudinal
retention of the longitudinal vertebra 20 within the receipt
receptacle 410, because of the straight edge formed at the end of
the tongue opposite its leading edge 621. The retention of the
longitudinal vertebra 20 in the joining piece in the longitudinal
direction (Ox) is completed by the abutment of the vertebra against
a portion 45 of the end wall 41 of the end joining piece 4.
[0090] The retention in the transverse direction (Oy) of the
longitudinal vertebra within the receipt receptacle 410 is for its
part ensured by the godroons 44a, 44b previously defined. It should
be noted that the godroons 44a, 44b previously defined make it
possible to compensate for any transverse play which exists between
the end part 20 and the inner surfaces of the lateral portions 40a,
40b of the wall 40 of the end joining piece 4. They therefore make
it possible to compensate for any dimensional dispersions
associated with the production method of the support structure 2 of
the windscreen wiper 1. More generally, the godroons 44a, 44b also
make it possible for example to use the end joining piece 4
according to the invention with windscreen wiper 1 longitudinal
vertebrae 20 which in particular have different transverse
dimensions, thus permitting the use of an end joining piece of this
type with a wide variety of windscreen wipers.
[0091] The invention as it has just been described thus makes it
possible, by simple means, to provide an end joining piece 4, the
putting into place of which on a longitudinal end of a windscreen
wiper 1 is facilitated, with a reduced risk of breakage of the
flexible guide and locking elements 6a, 6b which this end joining
piece comprises, and which exerts on the windscreen wiper 1
efficient retention in the different directions of space. In other
words, the invention makes it possible to provide a wiper end
joining piece which makes it possible to ensure, once the joining
piece has been assembled, a retention function which is just as
efficient as the joining pieces previously produced, whilst making
it possible to decrease greatly the force of insertion of the end
of the wiper in the joining piece during the assembly.
[0092] However, the invention is not limited to the means and
configurations described and illustrated, and also applies to any
equivalent means or configurations and to any combination of such
means. In particular, forms of the end joining piece other than
those described here can be implemented, provided that the
functional elements of the flexible tongues and of the end part of
the windscreen wiper are present, and ensure the same functions as
those described in the present document.
* * * * *